Volume 1: Practical Guide, Final Report and Appendix A
Under this research project, the prototype PRS (developed
under previous FHWA research) was revised and expanded to make it more
practical.(1,2,3)
Different implementation levels of the PRS were defined (Levels 1, 2, and 3), with the
simplified PRS (Level 1) designed to be immediately implementable. This report (four
volumes) was offered as a practical guide to using the revised prototype PRS (included as appendix A in this volume) for the acceptance of JPCP
lots. It discussed all aspects of the research, including the step-by-step
procedures for developing and using the PRS, results of demonstrations of the PRS
methodology (see volume II),
explanations of supplementary laboratory and field studies (see volume III), and the user guide
for the revised PaveSpec 2.0 PRS demonstration software (see volume IV). Based on the
research conducted under this project, the following conclusions and recommendations have
been compiled.
Conclusions
- The PRS that have been developed for JPCP highways are based on sound economic,
engineering, and statistical concepts. The PRS have been field tested in several
projects as shadow specifications, and reasonable results were obtained from these
projects, as documented in appendix B (volume II) of this report.
The PRS are now ready for the next step of implementation in an actual field situation
where contractor pay is under the PRS.
- Implementation of the PRS for JPCP will require: (1) the tailoring of the PRS to the
project and obtaining of many inputs and decision criteria and (2) adequate training of
both SHA and contractor staff in PRS concepts and applications.
- The PRS for JPCP are specifications on key material and construction AQCs that
have been shown to correlate significantly with the performance of the pavement.
Through the use of PRS, a methodology is provided by which the quality of pavement
construction can be related to the performance of the pavement and then to LCCs.
Thus, rational contractor pay adjustments can be made for each constructed lot.
- PRS have the capability to identify an optimum level of construction quality that would
minimize overall LCCs, yet still meet performance requirements. Selection of
target quality levels of AQCs (means and standard deviations) and other factors in
the PRS are required by SHAs.
- The PRS are driven by key distress indicators that control performance and, hence, the
LCC of the pavement. For JPCP, these include transverse cracking of the slab, joint
faulting, joint spalling of the slab, and pavement smoothness.
- Based on the key JPCP distress indicators, the following AQCs were selected for
use in the PRS: concrete strength, air content, consolidation around the dowel bars, slab
thickness, and initial smoothness. The PRS can include any or all of these
AQCs.
- Both the mean value and the within-lot variability of each of the AQCs are
considered in computing the contractor pay factor.
- Three different specification levels (simply titled Level 1, Level 2, and Level
3) were developed to aid in the implementation process. Level 1 is fully
implementable and utilizes current SHA test procedures for AQCs and simplified
contractor pay factor computation procedures. Pay factors computed using Level 1 are
designed to closely estimate those obtained from the more accurate simulation conducted
under Level 2. Level 3 is a futuristic concept where all testing is nondestructive
and rapid.
- Future LCCs of the pavement are predicted, discounted, and summed as a present
worth. LCCs include both M & R costs to the agency, as well as certain highway
user costs based on pavement roughness. If these as-constructed pavement lot results
indicate an increase or decrease in performance over that of the target as-designed
pavement lot, appropriate pay adjustments are made.
- The simulated field trials made it clear that practical limitations must be placed on
contractor pay factors. These limits are placed both on pay factors for individual
AQCs and on the overall lot pay factor.
- A comprehensive laboratory/field investigation of concrete material- and
construction-related variables was conducted and results were documented. This included
the following:
- Concrete strength testing (relationships between flexural and compressive strength and
other tests, maturity methods, and the prediction of 28-day strengths from early age
strengths at 3 to 5 days).
- An investigation of testing and construction variability.
- Correlation of concrete consolidation at dowels and measured load
transfer.
- The Level 1 PRS were demonstrated by developing pay factor charts representing typical
JPCP designs in a chosen SHA (Iowa). The three typical designs were chosen based on
medium, heavy, and very heavy traffic levels. Three general trends observed from the
exercise included:
- Pay factors increased as the quality of the measured AQC mean improved.
- At a given AQC mean, pay factors increased as the measured AQC standard
deviation decreased.
- Pay factor curves generally became flatter as traffic level increased.
A complete summary of these results is included in appendix B (volume II).
- The PaveSpec 2.0 PRS demonstration software is an integral part of the revised PRS
approach, and is used in combination with the developed practical guide (volume I) to develop PRS. The PaveSpec 2.0 software
provides user-friendly capabilities for simulating a lot. These include the
simulation of the construction of a lot, sampling and testing, performance prediction, LCC
summation, and computation of pay factors. The PaveSpec 2.0 software is an
invaluable tool for demonstrating and clarifying the revised PRS concepts.
Recommendations
- The PRS are now ready for field implementation where contractor pay depends on the PRS.
Successful implementation by a SHA will require considerable preparation of the
PRS, along with significant training of the agency and contractor personnel.
- The PRS are expected to lead to higher quality construction, improved performance, and
lower LCCs. The main reason for this is the inclusion of several key
AQCs (concrete strength, slab thickness, entrained air content, initial smoothness,
and percent consolidation around dowel bars) with incentive/ disincentive pay factors.
The rational computation of these contractor pay factors for each AQC and the
overall constructed lot should give agencies support for implementing a PRS.
- Each SHA wishing to implement PRS for JPCP must tailor the specifications and pay
computation procedure to local project conditions. This includes the following:
model calibration; AQCs; target means and variability; pay factor limits; AQC
limits; sample size; selection of key distress indicators; selection of tests for each
AQC; field management of sampling and testing, and computation of pay factors; M & R
plan; and procedures to choose trigger values for distresses.
- The PRS can be utilized to optimize design by helping to select AQC values that lower
LCCs while still meeting performance requirements. Very little work has been
done in this regard to date, and much more is needed to fully demonstrate the value of
PRS.
- Many improvements to the existing PRS for JPCP are still needed. The
implementation of PRS will be a major effort, and limitations will certainly develop.
These must be overcome with further research and development. Following are
some specific areas of further development and improvements that are needed for PRS for
concrete pavements:
- Improved user cost models are clearly needed in PRS. The existing user cost models
need updating and do not include traffic delay costs from lane closures for M & R.
- Improved distress and roughness prediction models are needed. Those in
PaveSpec 2.0 are the best available at this time, but they certainly could be improved
upon given the extent of LTPP data now available.
- Additional AQCs could be included to make PRS more comprehensive.
These could include joint sawing depth, surface texture, concrete mixture components
(cement, aggregates, etc.), and improved ways to measure early strength. In
addition, inclusion of base course quality, subgrade quality, and shoulders would be
valuable to PRS.
- Additional pavement types: continuously reinforced concrete pavement, jointed
reinforced concrete pavement, and unbonded concrete overlays.
- Development of more rapid, nondestructive testing for concrete strength
measurement.
- Additional work is needed in developing and improving the PRS for Levels 2 and 3.
Level 2 requires the running of simulations to compute a lot pay factor. While this
provides a correct pay factor, it is a "black box" to the agency and
contractor. Level 3 needs more rapid nondestructive tests on the in situ pavement
lot.
- Use of pavement management system (PMS) data support PRS implementation. Such
aspects as calibration of distress models, validation of distress models, and validation
and improvement of M & R life-cycle costing are important.
- After the conduct of initial implementation projects, there will be a need to better
investigate the benefits of PRS as compared to conventional QA/QC specifications.
- Finally, considerable training in PRS concepts and practice will be needed for SHA,
contractor, and industry personnel.